Disappearance of Khashoggi cannot be covered up: AK Party spox

Turkey is probing the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the incident cannot be covered up, Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesman Ömer Çelik said on Saturday.

“The president is following the matter closely. Turkey’s independent investigation is ongoing. It is a very critical matter. There are speculative claims that a respectful journalist was killed. Such an action is an attack on all the values of the democratic world,” Çelik said.

Jamal Khashoggi was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, and fears have grown that he has been killed by Riyadh.

“It involves the Republic of Turkey directly. This individual went missing on our soil. He entered the premises and did not re-emerge. It will eventually become clear how he went missing, what happened and who organized it. The disappearance of Khashoggi cannot be covered up,” Çelik said.

On the same day Khashoggi arrived at the consulate, 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was inside, police sources said. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.

Saudi authorities have yet to give a clear explanation of Khashoggi’s fate, while several countries -- particularly Turkey, the U.S. and the UK -- have expressed their desire that the matter should be elucidated as soon as possible.

Turkey did not give into threats concerning the case of U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson and Washington demonstrated “the wrong stance” regarding the matter, Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesman Ömer Çelik said on Saturday.

“There were days when stances threatening the government were displayed. We did not give into these. Turkey has a long history of prosecuting foreigners. Our president and Turkey did not give into pressure on any of our institutions,” Çelik said.

A Turkish court on Friday sentenced the pastor to three years and 45 days in prison, but he will not serve the time in jail. The court credited his time spent in detention, and ended his house arrest and travel ban.

“Turkey’s stance, which is based on national honor and its national interests, has been put forth. Had this decision been made as a result of pressure, the move would have been made when sanctions were threatened. Economic attacks unseen in Turkey’s history were conducted, yet we did not give into these,” Çelik said.

Brunson was arrested on Dec. 9, 2016 on charges of being member of Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ). On July 25, citing Brunson's health problems, an Izmir court ordered him moved from jail to house arrest.

Brunson's charges include spying for the PKK -- listed as a terrorist group by both the U.S. and Turkey -- and FETÖ, the group behind the defeated coup attempt in Turkey of July 2016.

“The U.S. administration has put forth the wrong stance. The U.S. administration should derive a lesson from this. Turkey has in no way made concessions or taken a step back,” Çelik said.

Turkey and the U.S. have faced rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions over Brunson's detention.

Political tensions between the two countries sparked worries in the markets after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to use economic pressure to secure Brunson's release.